Hengistbury Head Beach (Dorset)

Information
Hengistbury Head is a headland jutting into the English Channel between Bournemouth and Christchurch, at the end is a spit that creates the narrow entrance to Christchurch Harbour.
Hengistbury Head beach is a pebble beach below the imposing clay and ironstone cliffs, with the Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve separates Poole Bay and Christchurch Bay and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Not so much a beach holiday location but a good place to explore and go for walks along gravel paths throughout the nature reserve.
Facilities include pay and display car park, toilets, cafe and the Hengistbury Head Centre.
We have no current information on dog restrictions for Hengistbury Head Beach.
Why not check other beaches nearby as we have no beaches around Christchurch, 56 beaches in Dorset, or check our list of Dorset Dog Friendly Beaches.
Beach Water Quality
Water samples are taken at regular intervals during the bathing season and at the end of the season the water quality is classified as:
- Excellent: the highest classification meaning the water is cleanest
- Good: generally good water quality
- Sufficient: meets minimum standards
- Poor: You are advised not to swim. The beach will stay open and an action plan should be in place to improve the water quality.
Tides
7 Day Weather Forecast
Our weather forecast for Christchurch in Dorset is split into two widgets. The first shows a timeline containing temperature, wind, sunrise/sunset and chance of rain, whilst the second shows the forecast for the week ahead including severe weather alerts when available.
You may also like ...
In this 'you may also like' section we attempt to answer what else can I do? Here you have a list by order of being the closest some more beaches, things to see and do, places to eat and upcoming events.
- Hengistbury Head Beach (Dorset)
  0 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  Hengistbury Head is a headland jutting into the English Channel between Bournemouth and Christchurch, at the end is a spit that creates the narrow entrance to Christchurch Harbour. Hengistbury Head beach is a pebble beach below the imposing clay and ironstone cliffs, with the Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve separates Poole Bay and Christchurch Bay and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Not so much a beach holiday location but a good place to explore and go for walks along gravel paths throughout the nature reserve. Facilities include pay and display car park, toilets, cafe and the Hengistbury Head Centre.
- Mudeford Sandbanks Beach
  0.9 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  A sandy beach at the tip of Hengistbury Head. Swimmers, paddlers and watersports are segregated on designated areas between numbered groynes. The collection of 300 plus wooden beach chalets may look rough but the huts are in great demand due the excellent location. Facilities include toilets, cafe, bistro and shop on the sandbank; Mudeford Quay facilities including pub, cafe, shop are just a short ferry ride away. No vehicle access to the sandbank. Nearest car parks are at Mudeford Quay and Hengistbury Head. Access is either by land train from the Hengistbury Head car park or ferries from Mudeford or Christchurch Quays.
- Beach House Cafe
  1.08 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  Beach: Mudeford Sandbanks Beach View: Situated on the sandbank of by Hengistbury Head and offering stunning panoramic views across Christchurch Harbour What’s on the menu?: Selection of hot and cold snacks, including fish and chips and burgers, refreshments, ice-creams
- Mudeford lifeboat station
  1.44 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  The Mudeford Lifeboat station is located at Mudeford Quay and operates an inshore lifeboat. This is a very picturesque location at the entrance to Christchurch harbour. Visits are allowed during crew training, check schedule on display in boathouse notice board.
- Mudeford Quay Beach
  1.54 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  Mudeford Quay is at the entrance to Christchurch harbour is not a beach but provides a great family day out location. You can fish off the quay, walk to the beaches nearby, take the ferry to Mudeford Sandbanks and Hengistbury Head or participate in watersports. From this point you can sail, windsurf, canoe in Christchurch Harbour or out to sea. Facilities include parking, toilets, shops and pub.
- Avon Beach
  2.09 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  Avon Beach is situated at Mudeford to the east side of the Christchurch Harbour entrance, near Bournemouth and is a 1/4 mile of sandy beach with views of the Isle of Wight and the Needles Lighthouse. Avon beach is a great family beach providing a great place for beach games, a safe gentle slope into the sea and sand bars to play on. Watersports has its own designated area in front of the car park and is great location for surfing, SUP, canoeing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. Due to the sand banks the beach provides a good place for kitesurfing and windsurfing beginners. Facilities include car park, toilets, shop, cafe/restaurant and hire of beach huts, deck chairs, sun loungers, wind breaks and canoes. Lifeguards in the summer and free identity wristbands to parents with children to enhance child safety on our beach.
- Avon Beach Restaurant
  2.24 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  Beach: Avon Beach, Christchurch View: The café is situated on an idyllic stretch of Dorset’s South Coast with a view of Christchurch Harbour. What’s on the menu?: Open all day serving a range of home-cooked meals ranging from breakfasts, light lunches to tapas and an enticing evening menu.
- Christchurch Priory
  2.6 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  Christchurch Priory is an ecclesiastical parish and former priory church in Christchurch and is one of the longest parish churches in the country and is larger than most English Anglican Cathedrals.
- Christchurch Castle
  2.74 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  Christchurch Castle is a Norman motte and bailey castle that has stonework dated to 1160 AD. The castle’s site is inside the old Saxon Burh dominating the River Avon’s lowest crossing. Alonmgside the castle you have a chamber block now known as the Norman House.
- The Beach Hut Cafe
  2.88 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  Beach: Friars Cliff Beach, Christchurch View: The café is located facing an award-winning beach, with amazing sea views from Hurst Spit in the East, to the Purbeck Hills in the West. What’s on the menu? A family run café, open all year round, serving breakfasts, snacks, burgers & sausages, homemade cakes, ice-creams
- Friars Cliff Beach
  2.98 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  Friars Cliff beach is a mixture of sand and shingle with great views across Christchurch Bay to the Isle of Wight. Good family beach with safe swimming, backed by a promenade that has wheelchair access. Facilities include car parks, toilets, cafe, lifeguards in the summer and beach hut hire.
- Highcliffe Castle Beach
  3.86 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  Highcliffe Castle beach is a sand and shingle beach backed by woods and Highcliffe Castle. Limited facilities: parking, toilets and cafe in the grounds of Highcliffe Castle. Note that the parking in the woods at Highcliffe Castle can fill up early in good weather. You can park on Highcliffe cliff-top and follow the Coastal Path to the Castle and then onto the beach.
View all
Where can I stay ...
Booking.com interactive map
Booking.com
What do others think ...
Leave a Review Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Review text
Select a rating
Name *
Email *
Website